ELS Academy Kick-off event 2026

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Practical information

We hope you are enjoying your summer- whether you are using it for research or quality time in the sun. In the midst of it, we would like to officially announce the save-the-date for the ELS Academy 2026-2027 Kick-off event, which will be held in Leiden on October 13th, 2026, themed “Crafting Your ELS Career.”

Empirical legal studies is booming, but the path to a career in it isn’t always clear. Law school or social science department? Which methods matter most? What does the job market actually look like? Join scholars at every career stage for a candid conversation on building a career in ELS: training, publishing, funding, and landing the job you want.

Last year, we were honoured to have Mr. Dr. Sanne Taekema as a keynote speaker. For this year’s kick-off event, we are thrilled to have Benjamin van Rooij (UvA) ELS Academy board member, director of the Center of Law and Behavior and well-known empirical scholar as our keynote speaker. Other parts of the programme include presentation sessions, for which the Call for Abstracts is now open! Click here to find more information; applications can be sent in through the form below. One presenter will be awarded a research grant of 2000 euros based on their pitch.

Programme

Crafting Your ELS Career
13 October 2026 | Leiden Law School

09:00 – 09:30
☕ Registration & Welcome Coffee

09:30 – 09:45
Opening
Jessie Pool, ELS Academy Director

09:45 – 11:00
🎤 Keynote
Prof. Benjamin van Rooij

11:15 – 12:30
📚 Presentation Panel Sessions – Round 1
Present your research and receive feedback from peers and professors in the field.

12:30 – 13:30
🍴 Lunch

13:30 – 14:45
📚 Presentation Panel Sessions – Round 2
Continue the conversation, exchange ideas and receive feedback on your research from fellow empirical legal scholars.

14:45 – 15:15
☕ Coffee Break

15:15 – 16:00
🎤 Keynote Panel: Crafting Your ELS Career
Dr Gitta Veldt · Dr Tessa van der Rijst · Dr Monika Glavina · Dr Edwin Alblas

The panel will discuss how to build a career as an empirical legal scholar, including how to profile yourself, present your research, navigate funding opportunities and develop your academic career.

16:00 – 16:30
🏆 Research Grant Pitching Competition
Short pitches by researchers competing for the €2,000 research grant.

16:30 – 18:00
🥂 Drinks & Announcement of the Research Grant Winner

Want to register? You can find the form here. Want to submit an abstract? Scroll down.

Registration form:

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Call for Abstracts:

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*If applying as a group, please fill in the name of the contact person, and specify further names under 'abstract (group/panel)'

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*If applying as a group, please fill in the name of the contact person, and specify further e-mail addresses under 'abstract (group/panel'

Abstract (individual) *

*Please submit an abstract of 200–300 words. If applying as a group, please fill in '-'

Abstract (group/panel) *

*If applying individually, please fill in '-'. Submissions should include: 1. A brief introduction outlining the panel’ s central theme; 2. The name of the panel chair; 3. The names of any discussants (if needed, we can assign discussants); 4. Abstracts (200–300 words each) for each individual presentation within the panel

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